History of the golf course superintendent profession

The first written reference to golf was in Scotland around the 15th century. It was played on barren land referred to as links. Coastal sand blew into dunes and was covered by grass, resulting in terrain with the appearance of wavelike outlines and sandy soil. These areas were unpopulated by people, and generally used by sheep for grazing. The animals would huddle together on the side of bumps and ridges, rubbing themselves into the sandy soil to escape the wind. This action made sandy hollows, which formed natural bunkers. The game was played on the land as they found it. A hole would be placed at some distance from the previous one and a flattish piece of land would be made into a green. The players, rules and equipment all had to adapt to fit the existing conditions. With the introduction of inland courses, machinery was used to create the banks, hollows and lakes found on modern courses. As the popularity of the game increased, the rules became more formalized and maintenance of the course became a necessity. Just as the game itself changed, so did the role of those in charge of the playing field. By the 1850s, newly created private clubs had hired "greenkeepers" to care for their golf courses. Often these individuals also would help design and build courses, teach golf lessons, make balls and clubs, and repair or improvise available equipment. While the golf course superintendent profession has changed over time, it is still largely a combination of science and art.

Content taken from http://www.gcsaa.org